Problems Of Teen Pregnancy

Each year, more than 600,000 teens become pregnant, and 3 in 10 will become pregnant before they reach age 20 (Secure et al., 2015). Rates are higher among black and Hispanic teens, with 4 in 10 becoming pregnant by 20 years of age, compared with 2 in 10 white teens (Secure et al., 2015). Even though over time the overall rate of teen pregnancy has decreased, it’s still very high and has a large impact on the teen parents as well as the families.

Over the last few decades the rates in teen pregnancy have been a debate; did they rise over the past few years or did they actually decline? Contrary to some doctors and politicians the numbers associated with teen pregnancy have decline over the last couple of years. Although there are still people out there who believe this to be an issue it’s made more of an issue than it actually is. The ads and commercials are set out to scare teen-agers into believing that were at an all time high for this issue, but realistically its actually the exact opposite. Teen pregnancy rates haven’t dropped on there over the course of the years. There are a few major factors that have contributed a great deal to this change. Those changes include but are not limited to: more resources being available to these teenagers to prevent themselves from becoming pregnant, society is more open to talking about this issue as well as the religion and culture change aspect of families today. Despite the beliefs of others, teen pregnancy rates are at an all time low for the first time in decades.

This brings caution, as according to The Pew Charitable Trusts, although teen pregnancy and birth rates have declined over the past two decades, states still face the reality that African American and Latina teens are more than twice as likely as white teens to become pregnant (Wiltz, T. 2015).

In 2015, the national teen birth rate for non-Hispanic white females was 90,833. The teen birth rate for non-Hispanic black females was 50,039. Along with the teen birth rates for Hispanic 80,364, American Indian/Alaska Native 4,738, and Asian/Pacific Islander 4,297. The national percentage of teen pregnancies to girls under the age of 15 was 1 percent. Girls age 15-17 was 26 percent and girls age 18-19 was 73percent.

Teen pregnancy is still a major issue regardless of the declining pregnancy rate. In 2006 birthrates among teenage girls age ranging from 15-17 were more than 3 times as high as

According to U.S Department of Health and Human Services, Teen pregnancy rates by age, racial, ethnic group, and region of the country. Most teenagers who have gave birth are between 18 or younger; in 2014, 73 percent were 18 and 19 years old teens. Birth rates are increasing in the Hispanic community. Latino are experiencing these issues due to the lack of communication

According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the teen pregnancy rate was 61.8 births per 1,000 teen girls in 1991, but as of 2014, it is at about 24.2 per 1,000 girls. While the rates have declined over the past few years, specific areas in the United States, such as Texas, retain high rates of teenage pregnancy. As of 2011, Texas is in the top 5 states for highest teen pregnancy rates with a rate of 37.8 per 1,000 girls (2014).

There are 61 million U.S. women in their childbearing years at risk of unplanned pregnancy. The risk is greatest among 15-19 year olds (18%).

Although the rate of teen pregnancies has decreased since the early 90s, the rate of African-American teen pregnancies and Hispanic teen pregnancies is still significantly higher white American teens. “ According to the US Teen Pregnancy Statistics Among Black and Hispanic women 15-19 the nationwide pregnancy rate they both were higher than a white woman. Well It's because poverty plays a major role in why these teens are the higher ethnic group in teen pregnancy. A black or Hispanic girl are not as open, with birth control and some don't have the health care needed. Most teens aren’t as opened to telling their parents their having sex.

Teenage birth rates, defined as live births per one thousand 15-19-year-old US females, declined by 10% from 2012 to 2013 from 29.4 to 26.5. In fact, the birth rate has been on a steady decline over the past 20 years, from 61.8 in 1991 to 26.5 in 2013. Teenage pregnancy represents both a health and social inequality in our society. Specifically, teenage childbearing is a public health issue because teenage mothers are more likely to experience negative social outcomes such as dropping out of school. This is a self-reinforcing cycle, as children of teenage mothers face higher chances of poor academic achievement as well as getting pregnant or getting someone else pregnant in their teenage years (CDC). Although the overall rates of teenage pregnancy have dropped, ultimately, the variations in the rates reflect the intersecting disparities regarding race and ethnicity, income inequality, geography, and environmental factors, which in turn affect access to medical care, education, and resources.

The teen birth rate reached a historic low at 34.4 births per 1,000 females aged 15-19 in 2010, a 9 percent decline from 2009, according to the Centers for Disease Control and

Adolescent pregnancies have become global public health concerns, especially when they are unplanned. "Around 77 percent of teenage pregnancies are unplanned" (Trends in Teens). If teens had additional education teen pregnancy and birth control options, then the number might decrease substantially. Race plays a big role in teen pregnancies. "The African American pregnancy rate, ages 15-19, is around 99.5 births per 1,000 people in 2010. This is double the amount for white teenagers" (Danawi 1). African Americans are more likely to have a kid between ages 15-19. Home life could potentially affect the age at which one becomes pregnant. "Teenagers who live in overcrowded areas with poor public infrastructure and high levels of violence are at

There are a number of variations and trends when it comes to teen pregnancy. Teen birth rates differ by racial and ethnic group and religion, for example birth rates are highest with black and Hispanic teens. In 2012 it was recorded that Hispanic teens had the highest birth rate with 46.3 births per 1,000 teenage females. This was closely followed by black

"Over one million teenage girls become pregnant each year. In the next 24 hours, about 3,312 girls will become pregnant. In addition, 43% of all adolescents become pregnant before the age of 20. These are incredible statistics when you consider that there are only 31 million females. The United States has the highest adolescent pregnancy rate in the developed world. As statistics show one in nine women between the ages of 15 through 19 become pregnant each year. Also, every 26 seconds a teenage girl becomes pregnant and every 56 seconds a child of a teenage mother is born."

"Teen pregnancy in the United States: In 2015, a total of 229,715 babies were born to women aged 15-19 years old, for a birth rate of 22.3 per 1,000 women in this age group. This is another record for U.S. teens and a drop of 8% from 2014. Although reasons for the declines are not totally clear, evidence suggests these declines are due to more teens abstaining from sexual activity, and more teens who are sexually active using birth control than in previous years. Still, the U.S. teen pregnancy rate is substantially higher than in other western industrialized nations, and racial/ethnic and geographic disparities in teen birth rates persist (cdc.gov)." As teenagers (in the United States), we are peer pressured or tempted to try new things. Some teens tend to try out drugs, and alcohol. However, some are having unprotected sex in which, is leads to having babies. This is called, teenage pregnancy. This has caused the United States to create records based off of the statistics and facts given from, researchers across the United States. In order to help prevent teenage pregnancy in the United States, teenagers must understand why, having a baby now isn’t such a smart move on their part.